Table-cloth fastener.



No. 640,25@ Patented 1an. 2, i906.

C ZIMMLINGHAUS TABLE CLQTH FASTENER.

(Application filed Supt. S5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR aff/Avi E ATTQRNEYS.

WITNESSES:

CHARLES ZllvlMLlNGllAUS, OF PATERSON, NEV JERSEY.

TABLEHCLOTH FASTENER.

SPECIFIGATBZON forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,250, dated January 2, 1900.

Application filed September 25, 1899. Serial No. 731,565. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Znnnmna HAUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Cloth Fasteners,'of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a fastener for detachably securing a table-cloth or the like to the top of a table to prevent the cloth from being accidentally pulled off or moved out of place.

The chief objects of my invention are to provide a simple and eflicient device of this character and which may be readily clamped in place and unclamped by the ordinary user.

To these ends myinvention consists in the various novel and peculiar arrangements and combinations of the several parts of the device, all as hereinafter fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

I have illustrated my improved fastener in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side view of myimproved fas tener shown as mounted in place on the edge of a table-top and holding in place the clothA thereon, the table-top and cloth being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is aside view of the fastener shown as detached and with parts thereof in section. Fig. 3 is a View of a section of the fastener looking upwardly, the plane of the section being indicated by the line Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan View of a metallic blank from which the hollow movable jaw of the fastener is formed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers of reference indicate like parts throughout, 2, 3, and L designate the three right-angled sides of a metallic bracket, the side 3 forming the main part and back of the bracket, from the respective ends of which project the side 2, constituting the fixed jaw of the clamp, and the side et, constituting a fixed abutment for the spring. This bracket is made of a flat strip of metal bent into the shape shown in the drawings. Upon the back or main part 3 of the bracket is `mounted a sliding jaw 6, which is made from a flat piece of stock cut in the shape shown in Fig. 4. This metallic blank comprises a body portion 7,from the opposite side of which, near one end,projects a guide-piece 8,having its edge cut at 9 in the shape of an are, so that when the ends of the guide-pieces S are brought together there is provided between them 'a circular opening, forming a suitable guide for the spiral spring 5. This blank is formed upon one edgefwith two ears l0, pro jecting at right angles to the guide-pieces 8. The blank is bent up at right angles on lines 1l in a parallel position and at right angles to the body 7 thereof. The guide-pieces 8 are bent on the lines 12 at right angles, so that they are brought over together and in a plane parallel with the body 7, as will be understood more particularly from Fig. 3. The two ears 10 are bent back on the lines 13 at right angles and so as to take loosely around the side 8 of the bracket in order that it may be slid along the same. In this way the movable jaw of the clasp is formed hollow and so as to receive within it the larger end of the conically-shaped spiral spring 5.

The spring 5 is formed of a metallic strip twisted on itself in a spiral form, and the upper and larger end thereof is inserted through the guide-opening in the under side of the movable jaw, and its upper end rests against the under side of the upper part of the jaw. The other end of the spring 5 is seated in an opening 14, formed in the fixed abutment 4 of the bracket, and in this way the spring is confined in place.

To prevent the movable jaw 6 closing against the fixed jaw, 1 form the back of the bracket 3 with a shoulder 15, which stops the jaw at a suitable point to keep it a considern able distance away from the fixed jaw. This enables the user to insert his linger between the two jaws in order to get apurchase on the movable jaw to readily open it. This holding the movable jaw some distance away from the fixed one also helps to retain the spring in firm position, as in such case the spring is not completely extend ed, and hence is always under tension.

In Fig. 1 I show the fastener as applied to the edge of a table-top 16, over which is laid a cloth 17. The fastener is in clamped posia IOO tion, with the fixed jaw 2 lying upon the upper side of the table and the movable jaw 6 upon the under side, and the spring 5, being Well compressed, exerts a sufficient pressure to keep the fastener clamped firmly in place, and thereby hold the cloth on the table-top.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is- 1'.Y A spring-clasp consisting in the combination of a bracket provided with a fixed jaw, a coiled spring, a.sliding jaW mounted on said bracket and having its under side recessed to receive and retain one end of'said coiled spring, an abutment on said bracket formed with a socket for receiving and retaining the other end of said coiled spring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A spring-clasp consisting in the combination of a'coiled spring 5, a bracket consisting in a metal strip having its ends bent up at right angles to the central portion thereof,

, one such bent end constituting a fixed jaw 2 ing and retaining the end of said coiled spring, substantially as and for the purpose s'et forth.

3. A spring-clasp consisting in the combination of a bracket provided With a fixed jaw, a coiled spring and a fixed abutment on the bracket engaged by one end of'said spring, a movable jaw mounted to slide on said bracket toward the fixed jaw, the said sliding jaw being hollow and formed from a fiat stockblank comprising a body with two opposite and laterally-projecting guide-pieces formed with a semicircular edge and two ears projecting from the same edge of the blank at right angles to the said guide-pieces for retaining the jaw in Ysliding position upon the back of the bracket, the said spring passing bet-Ween the said guide-pieces on the movable jaw and engaging said jaw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setv my hand in the presence of the two subscrib ing Witnesses.

CHARLES ZIMMLINGHAUS.

Witnesses:

EMIL ZIMMLINGHAUS, ERNEST ZIMMLINGH AUS. 

